| Adults
range in size from 30 to 36 inches (0.8-1.0 meters) carapace length,
and weigh 100 to 200 pounds (45-90 kilograms). Its carapace (upper
shell) is an attractive dark brown with faint yellow streaks and
blotches and a yellow plastron (under shell). The name "hawksbill"
refers to the turtle's prominent hooked beak.
Habitat
& Behavior:
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is found in warm tropical
waters worldwide. In the Pacific United States, hawksbill sea turtles
are found along the coasts of Hawai`i, American Samoa, Guam, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a shy tropical reef dwelling species
that feeds on jellyfish, sea urchins, and their favorite food sea
sponges. It may also eat algae that grows on the reef. The hawksbill
sea turtle takes in ocean water while feeding, but gets rid of the
extra salt by shedding big salty tears. It is a swift and graceful
swimmer, reaching speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
In Hawai`i, nesting currently occurs on the islands of Hawai`i,
Maui, and Moloka`i. Not all of the presently known nesting beaches
in Hawai`i have nesting each year. Kamehame Point on Hawai`i and
a black sand beach at the river mouth of Halawa Valley on Moloka`i
are the most consistently used nesting beaches.
Past & Present:
Hawksbill Sea Turtles have served a wide range of
important functions to Pacific Islanders. The shell of this species
has been described as the "world's first plastic" and
has served a wide variety of ornamental and practical uses. The
bones were fashioned to make tools. Various body parts were used
to make medicine. The flesh and eggs provided food.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle populations have declined dramatically in the
Pacific islands. Illegal international trade of items made from
this species is one of the worst threats to its survival. Since
1970, more than one million hawksbill sea turtles have been killed
for their shells. Many products are made from the shell's scutes,
which have a beautiful pattern often described as "tortoise
shell." These include combs, brushes, cigarette boxes, jewelry,
hair ornaments, and other types of accessories. Sometimes young
turtles are killed, then stuffed by a taxidermist, and used as decoration.
Other threats to the continued existence of this species include
beach erosion and coastal construction.
Conservation
Efforts:
Hawksbill
Sea Turtles are listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species
Act (ESA) throughout all areas under U.S. jurisdiction. In the Pacific,
the ESA applies to Hawai`i, Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, and the
eight unincorporated U.S. islands (Midway, Wake, Johnston, Palmyra,
Kingman, Jarvis, Howland, and Baker).
Inclusion of Hawksbill Sea Turtles into the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has
made it illegal to trade any products made from this species in
the U.S. and 130 other countries. The final Recovery Plans for this
species were recently completed and serve as guidance in actions
to recover hawksbill sea turtle populations.
Trivia
quiz:
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle 's favorite food is:
[a] fish
[b] sea sponge
[c] squid
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